Electroresponsive device



W. W. MACFARLANE ELECTRORESPONSIVE DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT 10, 1917.

Patented Jan. 3, 1922.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFEE.

WILLIAM W. MAGFARLANE, OF PHILADELPHIA, IENNSYLVANIA, AS$IGNOR TO MACFARLANE COMIYIUNICATIONS CORPORATION, OF NE'W YORK, N. Y., A COP.-

PORATION OF DELAWARE.

ELECTRORESPONSIVE DEVICE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, IVILLIAM W. Mxorxn- LANE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Philadelphia, county of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Electroresponsive Devices, of which of the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to current conducting members especially of the type known as electroresponsive devices.

This application is a continuation in part of my application Ser. No. 867,316, filed October 19, 1914:, and Ser. No. 82,861 filed March 8, 1916.

The main object of-this invention is to provide a current carrying member that will afford a low resistance path of current of relatively large volume in such manner that a relatively powerful effect, such as a magnetic field, may be created by means of current of low voltage.

One feature of the invention consists in a current conducting member having the formation of a hollow helix adjacent convolutions of which are separated from each other by an air gap. form in which the invention is herein clothed, it consists of a translating device having a core around which extend, in helical formation, a conductor having convolutions of a ribbon or strip-like character and of relatively large cross sectional area to afford a low resistance path for an electric current.

Other features of the invention will appear as the specification proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of an electromagnet embodying the invention, one end of said magnet being shown in cross section.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of a modified form of the invention also shown partly in section.

Figure 8 is a transverse sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

In Figure 1, 1 represents a current conducting member extending in helical formation around a core 2 and constituting an electromagnet. The convolutions of helix 1 are preferably formed by cutting a deep helical groove 3 in a bar of copper or other conducting material, the removal of the Specification of Letters Patent.

In the particular Patented Jan. 3, 1922.

Application filed September 20, 1917. Serial No. 192,298.

metal from the groove leaving the convolutionslt forming a coil. To separate the convolutions individually from each other and to produce a hollow helix the central portion of the bar is bored out either before or after the helical groove is out. In effect, therefore, the coil consists of a ribbon or strip-shaped band of metal of relatively rigid material extending in helical forma tion around a central axis. The air gap 3 between adjacent convolutions of the coil may be of sufficient amplitude to insulate them from each other; but, in order to properly insulate core 2 from the coil, a suitable insulating sleeve 5 is employed.

Any suitable means may be utilized for conducting current to and from the coil. In Figure 1 these elements take the following form: standards 6 are provided with openings for the reception and support of the coil and these standards may in themselves constitute current conducting members to and from which current may be transmitted by means of cables 7. Under the control of core 2 and at each end thereof, there is a polarized armature 8 pivotally supported at 9, each of said armatures being adapted to engage contact 10 to complete a circuit represented by conductors l1 and 12. In the form here disclosed, current flowing in one direction through the device will cause core 2 to attract one of the armatures 8 and to repel the other one. When the current is reversed, the opposite effect will be produced, as will be understood. It will also be understood that contacts 10 and armatures 8 are properly insulated from standards 6.

In the form of the invention shown in Figure 2, the construction of the coil or helix is substantially the same except that the standards are omitted, a portion of the bar 25 from which the helix is produced being left at each end of the device and the coil being integrally formed with said end pieces. The current conducting member here is properly insulated from the general supporting member 26 and has current transmitted to it by means of conductors 7, as before. The core 2, in this case, is provided with forwardly extending pole members 13, one of which passes through the supporting member 25 and is properly insulated therefrom at 27 so that extensions 13 may, in addition to constituting a magnetic core, form a current conducting member. It

will be understood that by passing current through the device in a given direction, one of thepole extensions 13 will attract armature 14 which is a permanent magnet and close a circuit represented by conductor 18, pole piece extension 13, contact member 16 and conductor 20. If current is passed through the device in the opposite direction, the armature will bring the contact member 15 against the other pole extension 13 and will thus close a circuit leading .to conductor 19. To maintain armature 14 in mid-position, springs21 may bear against the rear extension 17 thereof.

housings, and an armature under the infiu ence of the core. 7

Signed at New. York, in the county of New York and State of New Y0rk, this 18day of September, 1917. r

WILLIAM W. MACFARLANE. 

